The first album by Graham Parker and the Rumour, Howlin' Wind, was released to acclaim in 1976 and was rapidly followed by the stylistically similar Heat Treatment. A mixture of rock, ballads, and reggae-influenced numbers, these albums reflected Parker's early influences (Motown, The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan,Van Morrison) and contained the songs which formed the core of Parker's live shows -- "White Honey", "Soul Shoes", "Lady Doctor", "Fool's Gold", and his early signature tune "Don't Ask Me Questions", which hit the top 40 in the UK.
Parker and the Rumour built a reputation as incendiary live performers: the promotional album Live at Marble Arch was recorded at this time and shows off their raw onstage style. Like the pub rock scene he was loosely tied to, the singer's class-conscious lyrics and passionate vocals signaled a renewal of rock music as punk rock began to flower in Britain.
Bob Andrews left The Rumour in early 1980, and was not officially replaced. However, in studio sessions for the next album (The Up Escalator), Nicky Hopkins and Danny Federici (of The E Street Band) sat in on keyboards.
1980's The Up Escalator was Parker's highest-charting album in the UK and featured production by Jimmy Iovine and guest vocals from Bruce Springsteen. Significantly, the front cover of the album credited only Graham Parker, not "Graham Parker and The Rumour".
The Up Escalator would prove to be Parker's last album with the Rumour, although guitarist Brinsley Schwarz would reunite with Parker in 1983 and play on most of the singer's albums through the decade's end. As well, bassist Andrew Bodnar would rejoin Parker from 1988 through the mid 1990s, and drummer Steve Goulding would play on Parker's 2001 album Deepcut To Nowhere.
In early 2011, Parker reunited with all five original members of The Rumour to record a new album. The record, titled Three Chords Good, was released in November 2012.
You Can't Be Too Strong
Graham Parker & The Rumour Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And give you a shot, so that you wouldn't feel?
And washed it away as if it wasn't real?
It's just a mistake I won't have to face
Don't give it a name, don't give it a place
Don't give it a chance, it's lucky in a way
I hadn't intended to stay
If you want to keep it right, put it to sleep at night
Squeeze it until it could say
You can't be too strong
You can't be too strong
You can't be too strong
Can't be too strong
You decide what's wrong
Well I ain't gonna cry, I'm gonna rejoice
And shout myself dry and go see the boys
They'll laugh when I say I left it overseas
Yeah babe, I know it gets dark, down by Luna Park
But everybody else is squeezing out a spark
That happened in the heat, somewhere in the dark, in the dark
The doctor gets nervous completing the service
He's all rubber gloves and no head
Yes, he fumbles the light switch, it's just another minor hitch
Wishes to God he was dead
But you can't be too strong
You can't be too strong
You can't be too strong
Can't be too strong
You decide what's wrong
Can't be too hard
Too tough, too rough
Too right, too wrong
And you can't be too strong
Baby can't be too right
The song "You Can't Be Too Strong" by Graham Parker & The Rumour is a deeply personal and emotional exploration of a traumatic experience that the singer had gone through. The song's lyrics deal with an abortion that the singer's partner went through, and the feelings of guilt, regret, and grief that he experienced as a result. The first verse of the song paints a picture of a brutal and clinical abortion process, with language like "talons of steel" and "washed it away." The second verse has the singer questioning whether the experience was even real or just a mistake. The third verse is about the aftermath of the abortion, with the singer trying to keep the memory of the experience at bay by not giving it a name or a place.
The chorus of the song features the lines "You can't be too strong / You can't be too strong / Can't be too strong / You decide what's wrong." The use of the word "strong" here is significant, as it suggests that the singer is trying to be strong in the face of his emotions and pain. The repetition of the phrase also emphasizes the idea that there isn't one "right" way to react to trauma, and that individuals need to decide what works for them.
One interesting interpretation of the song's lyrics is that they can be seen as a commentary on the societal pressure that men experience to be "strong" and not show vulnerability. The singer's attempts to keep his emotions in check and not give the experience a chance could be read as an example of this pressure. Additionally, the doctor in the song is described as being "all rubber gloves and no head," which could be seen as a metaphor for the way that men are expected to keep their emotions in check and be logical instead of emotional.
Line by Line Meaning
Did they tear it out with talons of steel
Did they forcefully remove it with extreme aggression?
And give you a shot, so that you wouldn't feel?
Did they sedate you to numb the pain?
And washed it away as if it wasn't real?
Did they try to erase the memory of what happened?
It's just a mistake I won't have to face
This is a mistake I can move on from
Don't give it a name, don't give it a place
Don't dwell on it or it'll consume you
Don't give it a chance, it's lucky in a way
It's a good thing it happened, considering the circumstances
It must have felt strange to find me inside you
I imagine you were surprised to encounter me in this way
I hadn't intended to stay
This wasn't planned, nor did I plan to remain
If you want to keep it right, put it to sleep at night
To maintain order in your life, put it to rest
Squeeze it until it could say
Hold it tight but don't let it consume you
You can't be too strong
You cannot be too vigilant or take too much control
Can't be too strong
You cannot be too vigilant or take too much control (repeated line)
You decide what's wrong
You determine what's incorrect in your life
Well I ain't gonna cry, I'm gonna rejoice
I won't cry over this, I'll find something positive to celebrate
And shout myself dry and go see the boys
I'll cheer myself up then go hang out with my friends
They'll laugh when I say I left it overseas
My friends will find it amusing to hear I abandoned it abroad
Yeah babe, I know it gets dark, down by Luna Park
I'm aware that things get challenging, especially in the dark, but it's okay
But everybody else is squeezing out a spark
Other people are managing to stay positive despite the challenges
That happened in the heat, somewhere in the dark, in the dark
Something transpired amidst extreme passion and mystery
The doctor gets nervous completing the service
The physician appears uneasy about his role in the situation
He's all rubber gloves and no head
He looks the part of a scientist, but lacks the decisive leadership skills
Yes, he fumbles the light switch, it's just another minor hitch
He's clumsy and causes small setbacks
Wishes to God he was dead
He wishes he could make amends or terminate his role in the situation
Can't be too hard
It is important to maintain mental strength and avoid being too fragile
Too tough, too rough
Make sure to avoid becoming too insensitive or uncaring
Too right, too wrong
Avoid being too righteous or doing wrong themselves
Baby can't be too right
Do the right thing consistently, no matter how difficult it may be
Lyrics Š BMG Rights Management
Written by: Graham Parker
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Tundigirl
...But you can't be too strong
You can't be too strong
You can't be too strong
Can't be too strong
You decide what's wrong
Can't be too hard
Too tough, too rough
Too right, too wrong
And you can't be too strong
Baby can't be too right
@zhtod
Did they tear it out with talons of steel
And give you a shot, so that you wouldn't feel?
And washed it away as if it wasn't real?
It's just a mistake I won't have to face
Don't give it a name, don't give it a place
Don't give it a chance, it's lucky in a way
It must have felt strange to find me inside you
I hadn't intended to stay
If you want to keep it right, put it to sleep at night
Squeeze it until it could say
You can't be too strong
You can't be too strong
You can't be too strong
Can't be too strong
You decide what's wrong
Well I ain't gonna cry, I'm gonna rejoice
And shout myself dry and go see the boys
They'll laugh when I say I left it overseas
Yeah babe, I know it gets dark, down by Luna Park
But everybody else is squeezing out a spark
That happened in the heat, somewhere in the dark, in the dark
The doctor gets nervous completing the service
He's all rubber gloves and no head
Yes, he fumbles the light switch, it's just another minor hitch
Wishes to God he was dead
But you can't be too strong
You can't be too strong
You can't be too strong
Can't be too strong
You decide what's wrong
Can't be too hard
Too tough, too rough
Too right, too wrong
And you can't be too strong
Baby can't be too right
@dommccaffry3802
Squeezing out sparks is one of the greatest albums of all time, and should have propelled graham to global success. There you go. Sometimes the best stuff does'nt make it through the gates. And sometimes the less than great stuff does.
@holaizzy
Pure truth
@josephobenauer3093
Hands down, the most powerful song ever. A subject no one would dare approach. Genius.
@ArchambaultMark
So powerful. I play solo acoustic shows. Sometimes I play this late in my set if no one is listening. Once a woman about my age approached me afterwards with tears in her eyes. She knew the song and said 'thank you'. No other words needed.
@TomHaneyArtwork
Just wow.
@luciusmichael
One of the greatest albums. Period.
@arneemilbredland2339
Couldn`t agree more.
@mrjayad1
This is one of my stuck on a deserted island albums. Every track is sheer genius
@patricecatanio901
Me too!
@thejmhaag
Tricky subject for anyone to address publicly, let alone in song form, let alone further a song as great as this. He makes the ugly mix of emotions around it into a thing of wistful beauty. Just goes to show what a criminally underrated songwriter Graham Parker is.